Cartridge case venting machine



July 20, 1948. E. MOYER 2, 5

CARTRIDGE CASE VENTING MAGHINE Filed July 10. 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 1 3110mm DWARD Maven July 20, 1948. E. MOYER CARTRIDGE CASE VENTING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 10, 1,946

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CARTRIDGE CASE VENTING MACHINE Filed July 10. 1946 v 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q IIIIIIIIA 7 L E 5 1 t %JKMMM L4M W F]: g. E

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E. MOYER CARTRIDGE CASE VENTING MACHINE Filed July 10. 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 July 20, 1948'. E. MOYER CARTRIDGE CASE, VENTING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 10, 1946 3 8 .v mm w a W mm b .8 a E m mmw mm 0 v hH gwuc/wtov EDWARD Mnvanw %%M+2/. (em

July 20, 1948. E. MOYER CARTRIDGE CASE VENTING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed July 10, 1946 m E RN e2 3 M 0 2: m vs N w 02 MW W m9 3 NS E v e9 3 B1 3 5 m IM. m: M a R 8 mm mm by W 9? mm um mm R .7 R mw mm mm R mm an wk mm u R Q. mm vm u mm vm mm MN m mm 8 a? .3

Patented July 20, 1948 UNITED PATENT OFFICE: 1

2,445,331 CARTRIDGE oAsE VENTING MACHINE Edward Moyer, Trenton, N. J.

Application july '10, 1946, Serial No. 682,524

(Granted under the act of March "3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. "G. 757) 16 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactfired and "used by or for the Government for governmental "purposes, without the payment to in or any royalty thereon.

' This invent-ion relates 'to a machine for punching a vent hole-in each "of a succession of cartridge cases or like metal objects.

it is "an object of this invention to provide a vent-hole-punching machine which is substan- {may 'a itomatic in its operation and which is "mended with devices which prevent the feeding or 'cartridge cases to the machine or disconnect the from the ina'chine 'in the event Of an interruption to the proper functioning of the "machine. I

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a cartridge case venting-machine having a cam controlling the feed of cartridge cases to the machine and having a spring-pressed latch or detent normally holding the cam in its operative position but yiel'daibl'e upon malo'peration of the machine to allow the cam to move to inoperative position and having a stop for restoring the cam to operating position.

An'o'ther specific object of the invention is to "provide a machine for punching vent holes in cartridge cases or-simil'ar metal pieces, said machine having a clutch controlling the application of power to the machine, a plunger movable into and out of the path of travel of cartridge cases throngh the machine and adapted to move a cartridge case (which is passing "through the mashine in reversedend-for-end position) 'su fii'cien ly to operate a clutch-disengaging mechanism and, thereby, to shut oif power from the machine. iurthei' particular object of this invention is to furnish "a relatively reciprocating bunch and a die into Whi'chthe end of the punch enters after it has pierced a hole in the head of a cartridge case or like work pieces and a punch-guide slidablv mounted on the punch and acia'pted to "enter th primer receiving cavity in the head i the cartridge case so 'as to guide the punch while it forms a vent hole in the head of the cartridge ease.

Yet another-object of this invention tvhi'chis worth ofm'ention is the rurmsmngof a ho-vent detecting "stem slidable so as to enter the newly ioiine'd vent hole or to engage the non-vented head of aearrriage ease andto be moveci'by the cartridge case so that the stem operates a deizlfitiilfi-ing hnkage and shuts on power from the ih-achine. i v I Othlffl'ld'flillth'ei objects of'thi's invention 111 are readily apparent "to "those skilled in the art to which it pertains or will be manifest as the description of the invention (herein given) pro- 'ceer'is.

For further exposition of this invention, reif erence may be had to the annexed drawings and specification, at the end whereof, the novel tea tures desired to be protected by Iletters Patent are specifically pointed out and claimed. i

In the drawings: r

Fig. 1 is a topplan vievv'with some parts away in a horizontal cross section.

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical longitudinal cross section online 22 of Fig. l. I

Fig. 3 is a view-in vertical longitudinal cross section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1. r

Fig. 4 is a view in vertical l'on'g'ituilin'al cross section on line 1-4 or Fig. l and on a c n-Sim erably enlarged scale.

Fig. 5 is a view in vertical longitudinal cross broken section on line 5--"5 of Fig. 1 and on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 5A is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the parts in inoperative position.

Fig. is is a View in verti'cm longitirdinal cross section'on line 6+6 of Fig. 1 and onan enlarged scale.

Fig. 6A is a view in vertical longitudinal 'cross section "showin'gthe p'aits illustrated in Fig. 6 but on a further enlarged scale and in engaged position.

Fig. 7 is a view of the Whole machine in side elevation with some parts brok'e'n awayin vertical cross section.

Fig. 8 is a View in vertical transverse cross 'se'r'rtion on line 8-8 of Fig. 7. i

Fig. 9 lis a view in vertical transverse cross"s'e'c=- tion'on line 9-9 of Fig. 7. I

Fig. 10 is a view in vertical transverse cross Section on line I'll-4 0 of Fig.

Fig. 11 is a view vertical transverse cross section'on line ll=-ll of Fig.7.

Fig. 12 is a .partial end view on line [2-42 Fig. 7 with parts broken 'away.

Fig. 13 is a view in vertical'trans've'rse ei oss section online 'l3'-'-l3 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 14 is a view in vertical transverse *cross section on line 14-44 "of Fig. 7.

"Fig. 15 is a view in vertical transverse cross section on line l5l 5 of Fig. '7.

Fig. '16 is a view in vertical transverse cross section on line I6-I6 ofFi-g. 7 and on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 1'7 is 'a view in vertical transverse cross section on line in of Fig. '7. Line m n overlaps line iii-46 at the dimer end thereof so :cases C or like work pieces to the machine.

that the upper portion of each of these views is taken on the same plane.

Fig. 18 (on Sheet 2) is a view in horizontal cross section on line I8 of Fig. '7 showing the punch, the punch-guide, and the pins which support the punch guide.

1 Driving mechanism Power is applied to the machine by means of a belt B passing over a sheave 20 fastened on the drive shaft 2 I which is mounted in bearings in the bed 22 by means of bearing caps 23. A gear 24' on one end of the drive shaft 2I meshes with a Clutch-operating linkage Figs. 1, 3, 12 and 14 show that bed 22 carries on one side a bracket 3| on which is secured a pivot 32 supporting for rocking movement on it a clutch-operating lever 33 having at one end a handle 34 and at its opposite end apin 35 by which it is pivotally connected to a link 35 secured by a screw 31 to the driven member 27 of the clutch. Spring 38 stresses lever 33 and the driven member 21 of the clutch towards disengaged or disconnecting position. 7 Handle 34 is operable to engage clutch members 26 and 27. Bed 22 carries a bracket 39 in which is mounted a pin 43 pivotally supporting a latch 4I having at one end .a weighted manually operable handle 42 and its other or inner end 43 underlying the fiat lower face 44 of one end 45 of a substantially U-shaped bracket 46 which is .pivotall mounted on a pin 51 on the punch head (hereinafter described) and which carries a manually operable handle 48.

Connecting rods Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 9 show that crank shaft 29 has an offset crank pin 49 to which is rotatably secured a die head connecting rod 50 by means of a connecting rod cap i. The opposite end of die head connecting rod 53 is pivotally connected to a slidably mounted die head (hereinafter described) by means of a pin 52. Crank shaft 29 also has, as parts of it, eccentrics 53 whose peripheries are surrounded by tubular straps 54 to provide rotatable connections for the ends of a pair of punch head connecting rods 55. Punch head connecting rods 55 are pivotally secured at their opposite ends to tubular straps 55 in which are rotatably mounted pins 5'! having connection with the punch head, (hereinafter described). Nuts 58 have interiorfaces of reduced diameter which ride in and serve as bushings or pivotal supports for the U-shaped bracket 46.

Feed

Figs. 1, 4., 5,, 5A, 6, 6A, 7, 13, 14', 1s and 17 Show a mechanism for'feeding a supply of cartridge F g. 4 shows that the cartridge cases C are fed in a line end-to-end through a flexible metallic tube 60 whose lower end is received in a rigid pipe BI forming the top of the magazine or hopper 62 which is mounted on the bed 22 and is relatively stationary thereon. Figs. 16 and 17 show that magazine 62 carries a pin 63 on which is pivotally mounted a U-shaped bracket 54 which is stressed by a spring 65 so that the ends 560i the U-shaped 4 bracket 64 tend to move upward about pin 63 as a pivot. At its base 51 or opopsite end from the ends 65, U-shaped bracket 64 carries a pin 68 having an enlarged head 59 which abuts a washer 73 which overlies and slides on a flat face II forming the mouth of an opening 12 in an L- shaped striker 13 pivotally mounted on U-shaped bracket 64 by means of a pivot 14. A spring I5 stresses a Washer 15 which slides on the fiat outer face 11 of the striker I3 and which also overlies one end of the elongated opening I2 passing through the striker 13.

Magazine 62 carries, on its face adjacent to the ends 66 of U-shaped bracket 64, a pair of plates which fit intonotches in the vertical edges of a fiat body 8| so that the body 8| is mounted for vertically reciprocating movement. Body 8I carries two trunnions 82, on which are mounted rollers- 33 riding on the flat upper surfaces of the ends 65 of the U-shaped bracket 64. A screw 84 is screw-threadedly secured to the body 3i and has an intermediate surface 55 of reduced diam- .eter which provides a pivotal bearing for'one end of a bell crank lever 83 which is pivotally mounted on a pin 81 screw-threadedly supported from the upper part of magazine 62. The opposite endof crank lever 85 hasvsecured thereto a screw, which forms a bushing onwhich is rotatably mounted cam follower disc 89. I

Figs. 5, 5A and 14, particularly, show a cam which is slidably mounted on the die head (to be described 1ater) uby means of a slide 9i riding in slideways 92. Cam 39 has in its lower surface a hemispherical depression 93 which normally receives a portion of ball 94 which is stressed by a spring 95 so as to form a yielding latch ordetent which normally holds the camflfl against sliding movement relative to the die head. A stop 99 mounted on magazine 62 in the path of travel of the cam 93 end'serves to engage and reset the cam 90 in operative position after it has been moved to inoperative position.

Centering device Figs. 6 and 16 show that the lower portion of ,the walls of themagazine 62 is provided. with means for centering or accuratelylocating each cartridge case C in succession during the venthole-punching operatiomthe detecting operation which insures that a vent-hole has been punched, and the ejecting operation. These centering devices are very simply formed of .siX pairs of confronting balls I33 and I.0I (only one. pair being shown in Fig. 16) which protrude from the inner walls of the magazine 52 and which are respectablystressed by springs I02 and 53 into engagement with the sides of each cartridge case C asit passes in succession through the magazine.

Punch head Figs. 1, 6, 6A, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 showthe punch head generally indicated at Hi) and. slidably mounted in slideways III forming part of bed .22 by means of a slide I IE. Figs. 6, 6A and 18 Show a punch I I3 which is mounted in the punch head II!) by means of ascrew H4. Projectingendl I5 of the punch head is of reduced diameter and has slidably mounted thereon a punch-guide II6 which has a projecting portion II! of reduced diameter and arranged to enter a primer cavity PC in a cartridge case 0 and to thus center the end I I 5 of the punchduring the vent-hole-punching operation. (The primer cavity PC is not formed by the inventive .machineherein-described, but instead is formedin the case-C prior 'is supportedin a Q-shaped clamp 14.3.-

to entering the instant machine.) The punchiguide .5 .also acts as .a stripper during the retracting .of the punch tip II5 since thepunch-i guide 'I I B'presses against head of the cartridge case 6 and allows the punch tip 115 to he with? drawn from the ventehole which it has Just formed in the cartridge .case 0. The punch-guide H6 is mounted on a plate H8. Figs. 7 and 18 show pins IIS which slidably support plate 148 and punch-guide H6 w ich is tressed by prin s 21-20 so that the punch-guide yield-ingly engages the cartridge case head.

Die head l, 5, 5A, 6, 6A, 7, 14;, 15 and 18 show the die head (generally indicated at III) slidably mounted in .slideways I22, which form part of bed 22 by means of a slide I23. Figs. 6 and GA Show the die I24 mounted in the die head I21 and h ing an end I25 pierced by apertoration I26 which receives the tip ,II5 of the punch in it when the punch has completed the vent-.hQle-forming operation. Fig. 6A shows the punch tip H5 entering the perforation I25 in the die I25. A conduit 129 communicates with the n r n o the pc i r t on I a d ends in an opening in the bottom of the die 124. Conduit I25 serves to remove the plug or piece of meta whi h has ee u a y o as to lea the vent hole in the cartridge case. The .die head also has an ejector I21 fastened to it and arranged to enter the open end of the lowest car-.- rids case C i th ma a ne 62 n hus. to ej ct h t cartridge case fr m the ma azine through a hole I28 in the punch head .IIO. A s rew I 30 en g s with the die h ad I?! and ho ds a lamp 1 which abuts at ts outer e d pon a i r I wh h rs. at. its lower nd up t e die head IZI has mounted on insert 1.3.2, which forms a part of it, a finger I40 which is secured to the insert I32 by means of a set screw MI. .01 punch he d "0, po ite finger I in. is a, screw tip N2 of frustro-conical shape. Screw tip N2 (SeeFig. 1 T ght n ng sc ew I se u s Q-shap d clamp I43 against screw tip I42 and against a plun e M5 hich is sli abIe through a a p I46 secured to punch head Ill] as by a clamping s M t s a n un er 145 is secured to L- hap d la ch 145 by means of a set screw 0 is- .8)- A s e t se n n F g. 1 and-6 L- hapd latc 48 engag s w th a cam 51 havin slo ing ace I which abuts t fa e o U-s a ed br c et 46.

Vent-hole tester .1, .6, 6A, *1. i0 n 2 di ipse iuns I60 having conical head I 6I arranged for movement with the punch head so that the coni- .,oal head IBI enters the vent-. hole in the cartridge case C immediately after the vent-hole has been formed. Figs. 6 and 8 show that the outer end of plunger IE0 is secured to cam I50 by means of a set screw I52 so that the cam I50 can .be

operated either from the lever screw tip 142.01 by r adily u ersto d om he I resoing .descrirtion but a short statement of'the mode of op+ eration of this machine is as follows:

Cartridge cases which are to have a vent.- hole punched in the head thereof are fed (head foremost) through the flexible metallic tube 50 so that they enter the magazine or hopper gen.- erally indicated at 62. if the belt B is turning the drive sheave :20 and the drive shaft 2] while the clutch 26-. 21 is engaged, the crank shaft 29 is rotated and the punch head 1H0 and'ithc die head I 2| are reciprocating alternately toward and away from each other'and the magazine or hopper =62. As the cam 90 moves to the right as seen in "Fig. "7, cam follower 89 is raised about pivot 81 in the direction of the arrow A. This lowers body 8I so that discs 83 roll on the ends of 6-6 of the 'U-shaped bracket 00 and cause it to tum'about its pivot 63 whereby the striker 13 rises from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 17 into the position in which it is shown in *Fig. 18. This movement of the striker M pushes upon one of cartridge cases C so that it ial ls on top of a pile or stack of such cases contained-in the magazine or hopper 52. 'Move- 'ment of die head 12' I and consequently of cam 90 toward theleft, as seen in Fig. 7, allows the stressof spring 65 to turn U-shaped bracket 64 about its pivot I53 so that the ends 66 of the bracket 64 rise carrying "with them discs 88 and consequently body 8I, and thus turning crank lever 'BG'about its pivot 81 so that earn follower St rides on the lower face of cam 90. The next stroke of cam 90 to the right, as seen in Fig. "1., again causes the same sequence of operations and lowers body BI so that the cavity 98 in the inner wall of the body engages the top of the uppermost cartridge case C and depresses the whole stack of cartridge cases in'the magazine 62. The bottom cartridge case C has been elected to permit this movement. If any obstruct-ion occurs-in the deed of cartridge cases so that the body'BI cannot be lowered, the cam '90 st-rikesthe cam follower 09, which is still in lower position, with such force that the latch or detent B4 is depressed against the stress of its spring and disengages itself from the depression '93 thereby allowing cam '90 to remain behind as the the head I2 movesto theright. Cam 90 therefore is in the inoperative position in which it is shown in Figure "5A, The subsequent left-hand move ment of 'die head 121 carries cam 90 with it so that the cam Eli! strikes against thestop 99 (Fig. .72). This engagement of cam :80 with stop 99 :resets the-caminto its operative position in which it is shown in 'Fig. '5;

Figs. 4, 6 and 6A show that the head of each of the cartridge cases C must be nearest the :punch head H0 so that the :punch tip H5 can pierce the cartridge case head. If a cartridge case-is fedtothemagazinewith its headnearest the die thead IZil', that is to say with its ends reversed from the desired position, finger I43 en.- gages with the head of the cartridge case and causes the open :end of the cartridge case to slide out .of the ma azin 2 ndto en a e th screw tip M2 and move it to the left as seen in these drawings. This movement of screw tip I 42 moves the ceclamp I43, the slidable rod M5, the L-shaped latch :MB and. the cam I50, so that the cam face I51 slides under the base of the Ueshaped bracket 45. This sliding movement earns the .U-shapedbracket 40 upward about its pivots 58. The end 4.5 of the .U-rshaped bracket 46 is thus aused to i e Thi ra se w ighte hand e A: of the p o c ai i 44 about its pivot 40. "Fig. 12 shows the fit of handle 34 into anotch in pivoted latch 4!. Lifting the weighted handle 42 frees the handle 34 of the clutch-operating lever 33. Spring 38 then turns the clutch-operating lever 33 about its pivot 32 so that the driven member 21 is disengaged from the driving member 26 of the clutch. This shuts off the power' from the crank shaft 29 and consequently stops the machine.

" When the machine is'ope'rating properly, the rotary movement of the crank shaft 29 causes movement of the die head I 2| through the die head connecting rod '50 and movement of the punch head I I through the punch head connecting rods 55. The projection II! on the punch-guide H enters the primer-receiving cavity PC so that the punch-guide centers the punch tip I I5 in order that it may punch a venthole directly in the center of the cartridge case head. At the same time, the die I24 has entered the open end of the cartri ge case and traveled the length of the cartridge case so that it contacts with the inner face of the head of the cartridge case C and supports it during the punching operation. Thecut-off plug or piece 'of metal (which has been removed to form the vent-hole) passes through the perforation I26 in the die I24 and escapes from. the machine through the conduit I29.

" The spring pressed balls II'III and IIH cooperate bypressing'on the opposite sides of a cartridge case soas to center it during this punching 0perationf The next movement of the punch head I I0 and the die head I 2I- towards each other and into the interior of the magazine 62 causes the rod I to move so that its conical tip I 6| enters the vent-hole which has been pierced in the head of the cartridge case C on the preceding stroke. If no vent-hole has been formed, or if the vent-hole is of improper size, or in the wrong place, the rod IE0 is moved to the left, as shown in the drawings, carrying with it the cam I50. This causes the cam face I5I to lift the rear or bottom portion of U-shaped bracket 46' and thus release latch 4| so that spring 38 operates the clutch actuating lever 33, disen ages clutch 262'I,' and cuts off 'power' from the crank shaft 29. v

The next following movement of punch head Ill] and die head I2I toward each other causes the ejector I21 to enter the open end of the lowermost cartridge case C and press upon the'inside of'the head and thereby expel the cartridge case through the hole I28 provided for its reception in the punch head III].

'It will be readily understood that many mechanical variations of this machine are possible within the scope of this invention and that no limitation is to be implied fromthis description, save as the scope of the appended claims may require.

' I claim:

'1. A machine for punching a vent in a cartridge case or the like, including, a drive shaft, a crank shaft, a clutch connecting or disconnecting said drive shaft and said crank shaft, a relatively stationary hollow magazine into which the cartridge cases to be punched are fed and in which the cartridge cases are held during the operation of the machine, a feed mechanism furnishing a supply of cartridge cases to said "said feed mechanism and said drive shaft, a

8 spring-pressed latch customarily holding said cam in its normal operating position and yielding to permit said cam to move to inoperative r position upon an obstruction of the feed to said maga zine, a stop in the .path of travel of said cam which resets said cam to its normal operating position, a plurality of spring-pressed balls mounted in the wall of said magazine so as to engage each of said cartridge cases in succession to hold it in position while it is Worked on by the machine, a plunger driven by said crank shaft'into and out of said magazine so as normally to enter the open end of a cartridge case or to engage the head end of a cartridge case and push a portion of the cartridge case out of the machine if the cartridge case has entered the magazine in reversed position, a clutch-operating linkage having apart positioned so as to be engaged by the protruding portion of the cartridge case and to be operated thereby to release said clutch, a punch connected to said crank shaft and mounted for sliding movement relative to said magazine, a punch centering device slidably mounted and movable into the primer-cavity in a cartridge case so' as to guide the punch while punching a vent in the car tridge case, a die connected to said crankshaft and mounted for sliding movement relative to said magazine so as to enter the open end of a cartridge case and to receive the end of the punch in the die.

2. A machine for punching a vent in a cartridge case or the like, including, a relatively sta tionary hollow magazine into which the cartridge cases to be punched are fed and in which the cartridge cases are held during the operation of the machine, a feed mechanism furnishing a supply of cartridge cases to said magazine, a cam-follower operating said feed mechanism, a cam operating said cam-follower, and a springpressed latch customarily holding said cam in its normal operating-position and yielding to permit said cam to move to inoperative position upon an obstruction of the feed'to said magazine. I

3. A machine for punching a vent in a car tridge case or the like, including, a relatively stationary hollow magazine into which the cartridge cases to be punched are fed and in which the cartridge cases are held during the operation of the machine, a feed mechanism furnishing a supply of cartridge cases to said magazinea cam-follower operating said feed mechanism, a cam operating said cam-follower, a springpressed latch customarily holding said cam in its normal operating position and yielding to permit said cam to move to inoperative position upon an obstruction of the feed to said magazine, and a stop in the path of travel of said cam which resets said cam to its normal operating position.

4. A machine for punching a vent in a cartridge case or the like, including, a magazine having a passageway through it along which the cartridge cases travel in the operation of the machine, a cooperating punch and die mounted for reciprocating movement towards and away from each other so as to receive in succession the head of each of the cartridge cases between the punch and the ,die whereby the die supports each cartridge case during the punching operation of the punch, a plurality of balls confronting each other in spaced pairs on opposite walls of said magazine passageway and spaced vertically and horizontally suitable distances to engage a cartridge case between them, and springs stressing said balls towards engagement with a cartridge case and providing yielding movement to permit placement and removal of each of the cartridge cases insuccessionto and frombetween; said balls and providing sufficient tension. so that. the balls-hold each of the cartridgev cases in succession. while a vent is punchedzin the head" of the cartridge-case.

5.. A. machine for punching a. vent in. a car'- trid'ge case: or: the like, including, av drive. shaft, acrank shaft, a relatively stationary hollow mag.- azineinto whichthecartridge cases to vbepunched. arefedand in which the cartridge cases are held during. the operationof the machine, a punch connected to said crank shaft and mounted for sliding movement relative to said'magazine, and a die connected to said crank shaft. and mounted: forusliding movement relative to said magazine so as to .enter the open end of: a cartridge case and: to receive the end of the punch in the die after. avent hasbeen punched ina cartridgeca-se.

6.: A machine for. punching a vent a cartridge case or-the like, including, a drive shaft, a. crank-: shaft, a. clutch connecting or disconnecting said drive'shaft and said. crank. shaft, a: relatively stationary hollow magazine into which the cartridge. cases to' be punched: are fed and in which the cartridge cases. are held during the operation of the machine; a. clutch-operating linkage, and a. stem driven. by said crank. shaft intoand iout of said magazine so as normally to enter a. vent punched in. a head of a. cartridge case or to engage the unvented. head. of' a car.- tridge case and to be moved thereby to actuate said clutch-operating linkage to release said clutch.

7. A machine for punching avent in a cartridge case or thelike, including, a drive shaft, a crank shaft, a relatively stationary hollow magazine into which the cartridge cases to be punched are fed and in which the cartridge cases are held during the operation of themachine, a. punch connected to said crank shaft and mounted for sliding movement relative to said magazine, a die connected to said crank shaft and mounted for sliding movement relative tcsaidmagazine so as to enter the open end of a cartridge case and to receive the end of the punch in the die after a vent has been punched in acartridge case, and aplurality of springrpressedballs mountedinthe wall of said magazine and stressing each of said cartridge cases in succession to hold it in position while it is worked on by the machine.

8. A machine for punching a vent in the end of a cartridge case or the like, including, a drive shaft, a crank shaft, a relatively stationary hollow magazine into which the cartridge cases to be punched are fed and in which the cartridge cases are held during the operation of the machine, a punch connected to said crank shaft and mounted for linear sliding movement relative to said magazine, a die connected to said crank shaft and mounted for linear sliding movement relative to said magazine in a direction opposite to the sliding of the punch so as to enter the open end of a cartridge case and to receive the end of the punch in the die after a vent has been punched in a cartridge case, and an ejector driven by said drive shaft into a punched cartridge case in said magazine and to eject said punched cartridge case from said magazine and from the machine.

9. A cartridge case vent forming punching machine, including, a relatively stationary hollow magazine into which the cartridge cases to be punched are fed and in which the cartridge cases are held during the operation of the machine, a punch mounted for sliding movement so that the tip of the punch enters and leaves the hollow in said-magazine, a. die mountedfor sliding mot/Te ment so that the tip of said die enters and. leaves; theho'llow' in said'magazine and receives the tip. of said punch in the. tip of. said die after the tip of said punch: has; formeda vent in a cartridge case; poweredrivenmechanism connected tosaid punch and. to said die thereby-giving: said sliding motion-tov said. punch and to said, die, and a punch-centering: device slidably mounted-on saiid punch and movable into the primer-cavity in a cartridge case so asto guide the punch. while punching, avent. in the cartridge: case.

l0. A machine for punching primer vent holes in cartridge cases, including, a punch mounted for sliding. movement so thatathe tip of the punch penetrates: the blind: end of a primer cavity in 8 stationarilyheld cartridge case and, punches, a vent hole. therethrough, av die mounted for slid:- ing' movement in: a direction opposite to they Slide ing of. the punch. sothat. thetip of saiddie en- 1361331 and leaves. the open end. of said cartridge: case and receives-the. tip of said punch in. the, tip. of said die after the. tip of said punch has formed the: vent in aucartridgecase primer cavity. the power-driven mechanism connected to said; punch and. to said. diethereby giving said sliding, mo tions: to said punch and to said die, and an ejector driven by said power-driven'mechanism so. as to engage the punched cartridge case and. to elect said punched cartridgecase from the machine.

11.. A; cartridge-case-vent-forming punching machine, including, a relatively stationary hole low'magazineinto which the cartridge. cases to be punchedia-re fed and in which. the cartridgecases are. held; during the operationof the machine; a feed mechanisnrfurnishing, a supplyof cartridge cases: to; said magazine,, a cam-follower operating said: feed.mechanism,;a cam. operating said came follower, a. spring-pressed latch customarily hold? ingsaid' cam in its normal operating position and yielding to. permit said cam to move to inopera tive position .upon an obstruction of the feed to said magazine and apower-driven mechanism connected to said cam thereby giving movement to said. cam. and -to.said,cam-:-follower. i

1-2; A cartridge -case vent-formingpunching machine, including, a relatively stationary hollow magazine into which the cartridge cases to be punched are fed and in which the cartridge cases are held during the operation of the machine, a plunger slidable into and out of said magazine so as normally to enter the open end of a cartridge case or to engage the head end of a cartridge case and push a portion of the cartridge case out of the machine if the cartridge case has entered the magazine in reversed position, a power-driven mechanism connected to said plunger thereby giving sliding movement to said plunger, a clutch connecting and disconnecting said power-driven mechanism and said plunger, and a clutch-operating linkage having a part positioned so as to be engaged by the protruding portion of the cartridge case and to be operated thereby to release said clutch.

13. A cartridge-case-vent-forming punching machine, including, a relatively stationary hollow magazine into which the cartridge cases to be punched are fed and in which the cartridge cases are held during the operation of the machine, a stem mounted for sliding movement into and out of said magazine so as normally to enter a vent punched in a head of a cartridge case,

power-driven mechanism connected to saidstem thereby giving sliding movement to said stem, an;

clutch connecting and disconnecting said power:--

driven mechanism and said stem, and a clutchoperating linkage having a part connected to said stem so that, when said stem engages theunvented head of a cartridge case, said stem moves said linkage to disengage said clutch.

' 14. A vent-hole-forming machine, including, a magazine for receiving cartridge cases or like work pieces and having a cavity extending vertically 'therethrough of suitable size to engage the sides of a plurality of cartridge cases, a striker movable'successively to engage each of a plurality of cartridge cases and to feed each said cartridge case to the top of said cavity, feed mechanism movable toward and away from said cavity so as to feed a stack of cartridge cases through said cavity step by step, an ejector synchronized with said feed mechanism and movable to engage the bottom one of said stacked cartridge cases in said cavity and to eject it from said machine, and power-driven mechanism connected to saidstriker and. to said feed mechanism and to said ejector so as to move them.

15. A venting machine for cartridge cases, including, a clutch controlling the connection and disconnection between the machine and a source of power, a feed mechanism for supplying a succession of cartridge cases to the machine, a position-testing mechanism movable to enter the open end of each of said cartridge cases in succession if the cartridge case is in proper position to be vented or toengage the cartridge case if it is not in proper position to be vented and to move the cartridge case and thereby operate said clutch to disconnecting position, a cooperating punch and die mounted for reciprocating movement towards and away from each other so as to receive in succession the head of each of the cartridge cases between the punch and the die whereby the a die supports each cartridge case during the punching operation of the punch, and avent hole-testing mechanism movable to enter in succession the newly-formed correctly-located properly-sized vent hole in the head of each of said cartridge cases or to engage the improperlypunched head of the cartridge case and to be moved thereby to operate said clutch to disconnecting position.

16. A venting machine for cartridge cases,.including, a clutch controlling the connection'and disconnection between the machine and a source of power, a feed mechanism for supplying a succession of cartridge cases to the machine, a cam forming part of the operating-connection between said feed mechanismand the driven side of said clutch, a movable detent normally-holding said cam in operative position but arranged to release said cam from operative position ifisaid feed mechanism fails to operate properly, a position-testing mechanism movable to enter the open end of each of said cartridge cases in succession if the cartridge case is in proper position to be vented or to engage the cartridge case if it is not in proper position to be vented and to move the cartridge case and thereby operate :said clutch to disconnecting position, a cooperating punch and die mounted for reciprocating movement towards and away from each other so as to receive in succession the head of each of the cartridge cases between the punch and the die whereby the die supports each cartridge case during the punching operation of the punch, and a vent-hole-testing mechanism movable to enter in succession the newly-formed correctly-located properly-sized vent hole in the head of each. of said cartridge cases or to engage the improperly: punched head of the cartridge case and to be moved thereby to operate said clutch to discon-v necting position.

EDWARD MOYER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in' the file of this patent: v I

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

